The Body Social

I think that women, as a group, conceptualize the body many, many different ways. First we must identify which women we are talking about. North American women? Conservative women? Liberal women? Religious women? Practicing body modifying women? Women in India? Women of what cast? Women in Argentina? Women from maquiladoras? Who? I suggest all these different groups of women because I believe that varying groups of women conceptualize their bodies very differently. And even within these groups, there’s bound to be differences.
The group of women I know best would be a middle class, North American, young women, specifically from Los Angeles. Even within this group of women, I would say my closest high school friends conceptualize their bodies differently than a the group of girls from my high school that were more interested in their looks. My group of friends, predominantly athletes, conceptualize their bodies as a vessel they move around the world in but do not associated their identities too closely with their bodies features. I believe they think less about their body than someone interested in fashion, as fashion is the art of clothing in relation to the body. Women interested in fashion probably see their bodies as highly valued elements of their self which can hold a piece of clothing very beautifully or not. I believe these women are more concerned about maintaining a specific body type and when that type is unattainable, using fashion to appear like they have that type. To some extent, this is how I see my body, but then again, not fully.
From hearing Kate Bornstein, a noted transsexual author, actor and speaker present on two different college campuses I have gained both a greater and lesser understanding of transsexuals and the way they conceptualize their bodies. I say lesser because Kate made a clear statement that she, in no way, tries to represent the transsexual community, but can only speak from her own experiences and feelings.

She said she has had a very love/hate relationship with her body as she was born the wrong gender, male, and did not convert to female until well into her life. I think she conceptualizes her body as both very much who she is and very much who she isn’t—something like a permanent crossroads. While I have even read some of her writings, I would like to learn more about how she and many other marginalized groups of people conceptualize their bodies.

ETHNOGRAPHIC INTERVIEWS ABOUT HUMAN HANDS
Interviewer: What do you associated with human hands?
Informant 1: Well kept hands, neatly cut nails, clean fingers and non-dry skin is a reflection of one's personal hygiene. Dirty hands suggest that the person doesn't care for hygiene as they touch everything with their fingers, therefore dirty fingers=complete dirtiness

This informant is a 19 year old girl who admits to being over interested in all forms of cleanieness. It is interesting to see how this kind of obsession plays out in response to a broad, general question and her first thought about human hands is about how they’re kept. Specifically in regards to nails, it is definitely a cultural phenomenon for women to have nice nails, which by bringing the woman’s attention to the nail, seems to often times progress to the well kempt-ness of the whole hand. This response, is while the informant doesn’t realize it, quite gendered.

Interviewer: What do you associated with human hands?
Informant 2: Hands, I associate with building. Just of hands building the world lol... ideally they're used for constructive things...but also destructive...but yeah...just that with your two hand you can accomplish anything.

This informant is a 19 year old, North American boy who attends military school. The difference in their response is fascinating! He associated his hands with building and strength and success and she associates her hands with portraying her cleanliness.